Mouse Trap

So about a week ago I got the kids in the car only to notice Ashley's carseat had bits of foam torn off the seat. She of course blamed it on Isaiah and I believed her. They had been in the car (although a short moment) the day before and his few moments of destructive behavior lately, I didn't think twice. Then I noticed a few droppings on my dash, but still couldn't belive it. Brian comes home that afternoon and says "I don't think it was Isaiah that took apart the carseat, I found shreds of my chapstick on the floor of my car this morning." Sure enough he found more droppings and figured it had been getting into the car under the glovebox. Ewe!!!! We set traps immediately and sure enough the little bugger was in the car again, but his time didn't get out! Luckily the one in my car was empty, but could you imagine driving and seeing one of those pop out from under the seat! No thanks! We caught one more in the garage (probably the one previously lurking in my car), but none since. My theory is they were attracted to the apples we had in the garage for canning applesauce. We'll be leaving a few traps out from now on just in case.

Trampoline Class

Isaiah started his trampoline class on Monday and had a blast! He was a little timid the first go around, realizing he was performing in front of people, but then quickly realized what he was missing while watching the other kids and did a great job. There's about 5 kids in the class and they take turns jumping for about 1/2 hour. Great way to burn off some of that energy he's had lately!

Homework

Ashley brought home her first homework assigment from her Cubs class. She was so cute about it, sitting down at the table saying "Mommy, I have to do my homework tonight and then I get a gummy bear tomorrow!!!" Her assignment was to trace and write the letters F and H upper and lower case and the numbers 0 and 2. Grammy and Grandpa came over on Thursday to watch the kids while we went to a Murder Mystery dinner and they commented on her homework. Grammy asked what happened on the last "2" that she wrote and her response... "oh, I just got tired".

Choo Choo.. All Aboard

I bought tickets on Groupon for my parents and I to take the kids on an old fashioned steam engine train ride. We started in Garibaldi and rode along the water to Rockaway beach, stayed for 1/2 hour getting lunch and walking around, then boarded for the train ride back. It was a little rushed and I think next time we would start in Rockaway since there is more to do before and after the train ride, but we still had a blast. The kids were in awe at how the steam poured out of the train and how it all worked.

Ready for the ride

Good Bye 3 Bee's, Hello Cubs

Ashley had her last day of being a 3 Bee at school last week. She really is growing up way too fast. She'll miss her teacher's, but is looking forward to a new adventure in the Cubs class. She's sarting to read, so they'll be working on that more in her next class as well as other things to get ready for kindergarten. Yikes, can't even think about her attending elementary school, it's too much!

Her old classroom

Ashley with Teacher Wendi and Lane

Bies Butte

I've been going to Mike and Kathy's cabin in Billy Chinook since high school. I have so many memories from there and after 5 years not much has changed. Brian has been there a few years with me, wining the annual wiffle ball tournament on Memorial Day the first year, but the kids have never been. Well, that changed on Labor Day and their still asking when we can go back. We all had a great time! We got down there on Sat and jumped on the boat for a cruise, then met up with the rest of the crew on the pontoon boat. The Surgeon's were down there (kids I used to babysit that are now in college!), so it was fun to catch up with them. Sunday we spent all day on the water, grilling brots on the boat. Denny and Rachael were there with their kids, so they had a lot of fun playing together. That night we had a great steak dinner. Everyone brought a ton of food, so we definitely didn't go back hungry! At night they lit the "campfire" (a propane fire since it's too dry in the summer) and Mike and Grandpa had a good time entertaining us. "What was will always be, what is will always be, and what will be will always be"... or something like that! Love you Dad! Next time we go there will be a new addition to Bies Butte, but tradition will continue as it has for so many years.

Mike had just gotten laser surgery on his eyes, so he had to wear these goofy glasses, then Isaiah wanted to trade hats with him

She was cold

Nice quiet place for a nap!

4 wheelin'

Lil' Buckaroo

Timber's Game

The kids got tickets to the Timber's Game for completing the summer reading program at our library, so we went on a Sunday in August. The tickets were for the reserve team, so all seats were general admission. We ended up getting pretty close to the field. There were a ton of kids, so we didn't worry too much that our's were standing on the seats and constantly moving! We took the train from Lloyd center which dropped us off right in front of the stadium, then stayed for about an hour. It was a perfect family evening out.

Picnic dinner

Foster Lake

The end of August we took a day trip to Foster Lake to meet up with the Patton's. We had a blast on the lake all day, tubing, swimming, and just hangin' out. We BBQ'd with them and left around 8:30. It was a little late to be driving 2 hours to get home, but we were having too much fun. We'll make sure we grab a site for next year!

Pretty in Pink

Just another Morning

Smoothie stache!

All to himself

Papa took Ashley on a date to the movie, so Isaiah and I got to spend a few hours just the two of us. We took Brody on a long walk to the park and then he requested to play with play-doh when we got back. I think he really liked the fact that he had all the tools at his disposal, including the knife that Ashley always gets.

Mama Day

I have so much fun planning outings with the kids. Some are worth while... other's not, but we're always good sports, have fun, and create a ton of memories. This mama's day we went to the reptile show in Wilsonville. I thought it would be something different to do and interesting for the kids. They actually really liked it for about 30 minutes, but they had a lot of the same reptiles and it was soooo crowded, we could hardly walk. Now that we have that check on our list, we probably won't be back (unless we're buying a reptile), but at least we know what it's all about. After the show I wanted to take the kids to the splash pad down there, have a picnic and make a day of it. That was one thing I knew they would LOVE. Well, the weather had other ideas (cold, clouds and eventually rain when it was supposed to be 80). Although we didn't get in the water, we still had our picnic and played at the park. I'd say it was a pretty good day!

Bend/Fam Jam 2012

We combined a trip to our condo in Bend with Fam Jam this year, taking a much needed 10 days to relax (6 days at 7th Mtn and 4 in Prineville)! The kids rode their bikes around the resort every morning and by the end of the week were cruisin' with no fear what-so-ever (the first couple days were not as such). After our walks we went to the pool until lunch time and naps, then usually back to the pool or playground. One of the last days we took a trip to Elk Lake and rented a motor boat for a few hours. The kids had a ton of fun driving it while Mama and Papa soaked up the views! It is beautiful there. That night we went into town for an outdoor concert which was a great way to end our trip in Bend.

Chillin' by the pool

All of the sudden she is fearless of heights

We had seen these ponies every morning on our bike ride, but this morning the kids got to ride them!

Taking advantage of a "backyard" cook out.

Elk Lake

We rented this power boat for a few hours to toodle around the lake. It's a beautiful lake and the kids had fun driving the boat.

Looking for fish and other things down there. The water was so clear you could see all the way to the bottom.

They have live music on the lake every weekend.

I guess you can get married here.

Downtown Bend listening to music

Brian got Ashley laughing so hard playing the drums on the pizza box

A good place for them and their babies while Mama and Papa packed up